Sri Lanka Crisis

Pilsarc Press Comment 23-05-09

 

Sri Lanka Crisis

Sri Lanka is facing on of the biggest humanitarian crisis in its history. The defeat of the Tigers in the months long battle has also seen gross human rights violations (including civilian deaths and injuries), human displacement at an unprecedented scale. Around 2,75,000 internally displaced persons are sheltered in camps and are in need of aid.

We urge:

(i)      Rehabilitation of the displaced persons should be taken up on a day to day basis by the Sri Lankan Government. The living conditions in the camps have been strongly criticised by human rights organisations. The Sri Lankan Government should provide complete access to UN and humanitarian organisations to detention camps and battle zones to ensure treatment to the wounded.

 (ii)     The Sri Lankan government must provide daily reports to ensure transparency in the rehabilitation process.

 (iii)    UN should constitute an International Commission of Inquiry to investigate and hold responsible all parties involved for international human rights and humanitarian law violation – as both the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE have committee gross violations.  An international mechanism is required to the lack of effectiveness of the state mechanisms to monitor and reduce the human rights violations.

(iv)    Meanwhile, the Human Rights Committee should be seized of the matter and monitor the relief and rehabilitation process.

 

(v)     A long term solution must be reached by all the parties. The Sri Lanka Government should must take lead in the devolution process as well as power-sharing at the Centre for minorities.

 

For further discussions/comments  contact PILSARC at: pilsarc@gmail.com